For H1N1, prevention is even scarcer than cure

AHMEDABAD: Prevention is better than cure they say. But in times of swine flu outbreak, which has claimed 306 lives so far, there is a severe shortage of swine flu vaccines for the aware citizens.

Chairman of Gujarat State Federation of Chemists and Druggists Association (GSFCDA) Jaswant Patel said, "There is a severe scarcity of swine flu vaccines. If there are 10,000 vaccinations available today, they will be readily lapped up," Patel said.

"For the past fortnight, we are being told that flu vaccine would be available in a weeks time which we are communicating to the customers," said Patel. "Had the state government placed orders with pharmaceutical companies in advance, such a scarcity could have been averted," he added.

When the TOI checked in around 15 medical stores in Navrangpura, Satellite, Asawa, Bodakdev, Premchandnagar, Ellisbridge and Paldi areas, it became clear that vaccines for swine flu were not easily available. Most medical stores said there was no stock of flu vaccines. Himanshu Patel, a 45-year-old professional with diabetes, obesity and hypertension, had enrolled himself for vaccination a week ago at a hospital but is still awaiting a call for the same. "Doctors advise people with illnesses like diabetes to get vaccine but it is not available," said Patel.

Personnel manning Deepak Medical Store near Sardar Patel Stadium in Navrangpura, said, "I cannot assure you if the vaccine will be made available in near future because even the distributors are giving us 20 vaccines if we ask for 50."

At Apollo Pharmacy in Bodakdev area, one of the staff said, "Swine flu vaccine is not available but one can get fluvir tablets to avoid infections. Vaccines can be obtained from government hospitals."

Dr Asha Shah, head of medicine department at the Civil Hospital, said that the vaccine is available only for the hospital staff. "The vaccine is available in some medical stores. In our hospital, we have been giving vaccines to the staff members who voluntarily want to take it," Shah said.

Vastrapur-based general physician Dr Akhil Mukim said, "I have administered the vaccine to 75-odd patients with co-morbidities, but there are many in queue," said Dr Mukim.

Shankar Chaudhary, MoS health, said that there is no need to take the vaccine and stressed that one should take Tamiflu instead of taking vaccines. When he was told that there is scarcity of Tamiflu even in generic medical stores, he said, "It could be easily found from the civil hospital. We have also made arrangements to distribute Tamiflu at 71 medical stores across the state."